SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A man and three teens have been arrested in Salem, Oregon, after police say they stopped to try on the vestments they had stolen from a church.
The four are accused of breaking into a Methodist church late Monday night and taking several small items, including a ceramic set of praying hands. After that, police say the group broke into a nearby Catholic church and stole priests’ vestments and a three-liter bottle of sacramental wine.
Police say they arrested a transient and three 16-year-olds as they tried on the vestments in a park.
5 comments
I’m sorry, I know I am but a heretical Protestant, but I just think that’s a riot, to be filed under Dumb Crook News, religious division. If you’re stealing ANYTHING it is NOT a good idea to stop and try it out. Somehow the quote “God’ll get you for that!” was never more apt than here!
When I consider some of the vestments you see these days, I can’t help but to wonder if:
a) Only a transient would want them.
b) The “thieves” were actually angels on a divine mission.
c) By having the thieves get caught wearing them God not only doles out justice and shows He has a sense of humor in doing so.
Jeff ~
This is my parish – it is located one block away from the state capitol building, and two blocks away from a bus/transit “mall” where quite an assortment of folks (young/old/homeless) hang out.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time for theft at St. Joseph’s – last Fall/Winter (2006) someone(s) attempted to steal the Tabernacle (NOT during Mass mind you). When they could not physically lift/move the Tabernacle, they made off with the domed lid. Father made a mention in his next homily about Our Lord being a real “heavy weight”.
Here is the link from the local paper:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/NEWS/706060444
They couldn’t have waited for Halloween…
By the way, it was great to hear you on the SaintCast! I hope you get some new readers as a result. Blessings.
Now, if we could just get more priests to try on vestments…